Anaesthesia

For many owners, the need to perform therapeutic or diagnostic manipulations under anaesthesia causes fear. They refuse the necessary procedures, which may lead to the death of the animal. These fears are unfounded, as modern drugs act much milder, compared to those used previously. A competent doctor preliminarily assesses all the risks, chooses the safest type of anaesthesia for the pet.

What is anaesthesia, features and types

Anaesthesia is widely used in veterinary medicine. The condition is a medication "switching off" consciousness and pain sensitivity in the entire body of the animal or a separate part of it. When drugs are administered, there is a decrease in the activity of all body systems.

Types of anaesthesia are divided into two main groups: general and local. In the first case, a complete loss of sensation is assumed with varying levels of impaired consciousness.

General anaesthesia is administered to animals in two ways:

- inhalation (gas) - involves the delivery of an anaesthetic agent through a mask or tube. Small individuals are placed in special chambers where gas is supplied. The condition is well regulated, the drug is quickly excreted from the body;

- intravenous or intramuscular - used in most cases. Minimises the impact on the respiratory, cardiovascular systems. Allows the selection of individual anaesthetic schemes and regulate the depth of anaesthesia.

Local anaesthesia is divided into:

- superficial - more often used for sedation of mucous membranes. It is carried out with the help of local means in the form of sprays;

- infiltration - introduction of the substance around the problem area, as well as under it;

- conductive - anaesthetises the tissues surrounding the nerve in the area of exposure. It is paralysed, impulses cease to flow to the brain. The method is usually used in conjunction with the intramuscular method of action.

Depending on the drugs administered, anaesthesia is classified as follows:

- mononarcosis - using a single component;

- mixed - consisting of several drugs;

- combined - in which different substances act on different functions of the body.

The choice of the type of anaesthesia depends on the complexity of manipulation, individual mental characteristics, the state of health of the animal and the volume of the upcoming intervention.

Anaesthesia for diagnosis in dogs and cats

The main use of medicated sleep is for surgical interventions. However, it is also required for certain types of diagnostics.

These include:

- tooth cleaning, treatment, and extraction;

- examination of the pharynx;

- wound care;

- placement of drains;

- gastroscopy;

- endoscopic examination;

- collection of material for cytological studies and others.

Attention: do not agree to proposals to carry out the above manipulations without anaesthesia, with so-called rigid fixation. This is a huge stress for the dog or cat and a high risk of traumatising the pet.
Sedation is used for some radiological examinations that require complete immobility of the patient. Anaesthesia is especially relevant for diagnosing pathologies in aggressive or fearful individuals.

Treatment of diseases in pets under anaesthesia

Therapy with the use of anaesthetic agents consists of three stages:

- preparation;

- manipulation itself;

- coming out of the sleep state.

During each of them, the recommendations of the attending physician must be followed letter by letter. Before anaesthesia is administered, the veterinary anaesthetist may refer the patient for cardiac examination, blood tests, weighing. Finds out from the owners age, the presence of chronic diseases. Sometimes breed affiliation is also relevant.

Increased anaesthetic risks are found in:

- Brits;

- Bulldogs;

- Scots;

- yorkies;

- Maine Coons;

- pugs;

- Chihuahua.

The owner is required to completely exclude the pet's access to food, water at least 10 hours before the planned intervention.

Stages of anaesthesia 

According to the depth of exposure, five stages of anaesthesia are distinguished:

1. Superficial - quiet sleep. Justified in the correction of shallow injuries, opening of abscesses, repositioning of dislocations.

2. Expressed - assumes a relaxed state of the patient with minor reactions.

3. Deep - characterised by a decrease in the functionality of the body. Its prolonged use is not recommended.

4. Overdose - accompanied by a weakening of the heart rhythm.

5. Agonal - proceeds against the background of respiratory arrest.

In the last two cases, resuscitation measures are required.

Coming out of anaesthesia

It takes from several hours to a day for the animal to fully awaken, depending on the type of drug, the complexity of the intervention.

Attention: when negative manifestations persist longer than the time determined by the doctor based on the condition of the pet and the dose of anaesthesia, it is necessary to consult the doctor who performed the operation.

In the first hours after anaesthesia, the pet should be completely rested in a quiet room without access to bright light. Warm bedding is better placed on the floor. After coming out of anaesthesia, the coordination of the furry patient is disturbed. Trying to jump from a height, he can be severely injured.
The cat or dog should be provided with unlimited access to clean drinking water. If the operation did not affect the gastrointestinal tract or unless otherwise indicated by the doctor, it is acceptable to offer familiar food after about 8 hours. If the pet remains nauseous, it is better to offer easily digestible, semi-liquid food.

Painful medical procedures are a severe stress for a cat or dog, which is much more harmful to the organism than anaesthesia.